Fostering community bushfire preparedness through engagement and empowerment

In March, 2009, the Tasmanian Fire Service introduced a Community Development Pilot in an endeavour to use community engagement and empowerment to promote greater bushfire preparedness in four target Tasmanian communities. The Pilot was facilitated by an appointed Community Development Officer who through a ‘grassroots’ approach engaged the community to become more bushfire prepared through tailored programs and activities. Evaluation of this Pilot demonstrated that this community engagement approach can not only directly promote bushfire preparedness behaviour, but it can also, through ongoing support and facilitation from government fire agencies like the Tasmanian Fire Service, be community driven. This therefore ensures a greater likelihood of sustained community bushfire preparedness.